NORTHERN IRELAND ARMED FORCES JOBS AND TRADES FAIR A HUGE SUCCESS

The first ever Northern Ireland Armed Forces Jobs and Trades Fair to be staged at the Kings Hall in Belfast witnessed nearly 250 men and women expressing an interest in a career with both regular and reserve forces.

This was the first time the two day event was staged outside a defence base allowing the public free access to see at first hand of the hundreds of careers available across the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Forces.

The venue also allowed people a chance to get up close to the latest kit and equipment used by defence forces from Northern Ireland on operations worldwide and allowed young men and women to speak one to one with those already on a military career ladder.

Changes to the Armed Forces have opened up thousands of regular and reserve posts for applicants across Northern Ireland.

In the Irish regiments alone there are currently 200 full time posts waiting to be filled with the Irish Guards, Queens Royal Hussars, Royal Dragoon Guards and Royal Irish Regiment.

And there are enormous opportunities across the growing Reserves footprint in Northern Ireland with up to 1000 posts in the Army Reserves at all ranks to be filled.

As well as this there has been the expansion of the Royal Air Force reserves and also with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Colonel Dick Rafferty said the decision to stage the two day event has proved itself. “As well as a great many applications of interest from people able to see and hear first hands about the opportunities, the venue also allowed a wide cross section of folk to gain a better understanding of the sort of support made from Northern Ireland to defence. The opportunities across defence are huge not only professionally but also in personal terms.”